Apparatus and process for securing an object to the seat of an automobile

ABSTRACT

A box or carton for storing floral arrangements or other objects on an automobile seat is disclosed. The box has openings which allow it and the object to be secured to the automobile seat by the seat belt. The box may have an automatic bottom which allows it to be stored flat and quickly erected, and may have an insert which has a slit and circular cutout and further secures the object. Instead of a box or carton, the invention may be applied by using only one or two sidewalls with openings and a bottom.

This application is a non-provisional application, and claims priorityfrom Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/499,672, filed onSep. 2, 2003, entitled “Collapsible Container With Restraining Featuresand Means of Securing,” the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a collapsible container which can be storedflat until used, then erected quickly, having a sturdy bottom, andfeatures which allow the container to be restrained in a vehicle bymeans of a safety belt, and which can be used to transport objects whichare susceptible to tipping, shifting, sliding, or falling over in amoving vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to a containerstyle and system that can be used to substantially improve time andspace efficiencies in a retail store, provide superior protection of theproduct being transported, and enhance customer satisfaction and safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many retail businesses, particularly in the floral industry, sell itemsthat are fragile and/or susceptible to tipping, sliding, or falling overin a moving vehicle. If the item has not been packaged properly, it canbe very challenging and potentially hazardous for a customer who haspurchased such an item to transport the item home, particularly if thecustomer is traveling alone. The roads would be much safer, andcustomers would be much more satisfied, if the customers could pay fullattention to their driving instead of trying to keep their new purchasefrom falling over.

In the retail environment, where point of purchase packaging is used, itis important that the packaging materials can be quickly and easilyused. It is also important to be able to stow sufficient quantitiesready for use, close at hand, while taking up as little space aspossible.

In the prior art, styles of packaging are available for the purpose ofaiding in transporting and stabilizing products such as a vase floralarrangement or other unstable product. However, many of these styleswere intended for commercial use, and are therefore too bulky, timeconsuming, too expensive, or difficult to use for point of purchase orconsumer use.

Other prior art items, which are intended for point of purchase orconsumer use, do not perform satisfactorily. They are frequently tooflimsy or too short to adequately support the types of products thatneed support the most. In addition, the seats of vehicles areincreasingly designed to conform to the human body; therefore the seats,not being flat, impede the stability of any rigid item placed thereon,which increases the need for the item to be restrained. Prior art stylesof packaging or stabilizing devices fail to provide means for securingthem in a vehicle. If a customer does attempt to secure an item such asa floral arrangement by means of a seatbelt, the lap belt usually slidesto the bottom of the item where it does little if any good, while theshoulder strap frequently gets in the way or causes damage to thearrangement. Prior art styles of packaging also require a significantamount of time to assemble, and once assembled, they require asignificant amount of space, which is a real problem particularly atbusy times in the retail environment, when time and space are in shortsupply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises a container and method of using the same,wherein the container has a pair of openings which facilitaterestraining of the container and its contents by means of a commonautomobile seat belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate several aspects of embodiments ofthe present invention. The drawings are for the purpose only ofillustrating preferred modes of the invention, and are not to beconstrued as limiting the invention. Preferred embodiments of theinvention are shown in the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flat blank used to make the preferred embodiment of theinvented container, a box.

FIG. 2 is a plan view looking down into the inside of the box of FIG. 1,at the start of the action of erecting the box.

FIG. 3 is a plan view looking down into the inside of the box of FIGS.1-2, in its erected state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the side of the box of FIGS. 1-3 at thestart of the action of erecting the box, showing the tabs folded intothe box.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the side of the box of FIGS. 1-4 afterit has been erected.

FIG. 6 is a plan view looking down on an insert which may be placed intothe box of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the insert of FIG. 6 with asection being removed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective, exploded view of the box of FIGS. 1-5, with theaddition of a floral arrangement and the insert of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the box of FIGS. 1-5 and 8, with thefloral arrangement of FIG. 8 and the insert of FIGS. 6 and 8 inside, anda seat belt inserted through the openings in the box.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the box of FIGS. 1-5 and 8-9 witharrows showing various paths along which a seat belt may be inserted andvarious spaces in which an object may be placed.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate triangular embodiments of the inventedcontainer.

FIG. 13 illustrates a hexagonal embodiment of the invented container.

FIG. 14 illustrates a stackable embodiment of the invented containerwithout an automatic bottom wherein the top end is wider than the bottomend.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of the invented container, comprisinga back panel with two openings and a bottom, resting on an automobileseat.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of the invented container comprisingtwo sidewalls with two openings each and a bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

I do not intend to list all of the products for which this invention maybe useful, nor do I intend to limit the scope of use to retailbusinesses, or the floral industry, since the specific applicationswhich I envision are far too numerous. A reference to the specificproduct of a vase or to the industry is, however, useful for the purposeof example and for convenience of description.

The box blank 10 of FIG. 1 includes cut lines that are shown in thedrawing by means of solid inked lines and score lines that are shown inthe drawing by means of phantom lines. First flap line 36 and third flapline 38, however, may be either scored or semi-pierced. Althoughcorrugated cardboard is the preferred choice of materials from which tomake the box blank 10, other materials that can be formed into a similarconfiguration and be either bonded or joined, such as paperboard,plastic, foam, or composites, would also work. In the event that anothermaterial is used, it may not be necessary for the box blank 10 to bepre-formed in a flattened state as shown; it could instead be pre-formedinto a partially folded, or a fully folded state, as shown in FIG.2-FIG. 5. This is possible with materials such as plastics orcomposites.

The box blank 10 is scored by four spaced parallel lines to form fourside panels 12-18 and an end flap 20. When the box blank 10 is foldedalong these score lines, and the end flap 20 is attached to the insidesurface area 22 of first side panel 12, the four side panels 12-18 forma tube with a square or rectangular cross section.

The box, when erected, is preferably greater than about 3¾ inches wideand greater than about 4½ inches tall. Preferred embodiments that willbe usable for many floral arrangements will be in the range of betweenabout 6 and 15 inches wide by between about 6 and 24 inches tall. Thepreferred embodiment of the box is comprised of side panels 12-18 whichare 9⅛ inches high by 7 inches wide.

The range of dimensions discussed above for the box may be achieved withside panels 12-18 which are at least 3¾ inches wide and at least 4½inches tall, and preferably between about 6 and 15 inches wide bybetween 6 and 24 inches high. If the side panels 12-18 are smaller than4½ inches tall, there will not be room for openings 44,45,46,47 throughwhich the seat belt 76 may easily pass, whereas if the side panels 12-18are wider than 15 inches, the box may support itself in the uprightposition, which may obviate the need for the invention to prevent thebox from tipping over; however, such a box would still slide along theautomobile seat, the prevention of which is another benefit of theinvention.

Extending from the bottom of each of the side panels 12-18 is anautomatic bottom closure flap, 24,26,28,30. Of these closure flaps,first closure flap 24 and third closure flap 28 have attachmenthalf-flap panels 34 and 42, and bottom half-flap panels 32 and 40. Firstbottom half-flap panel 32 and third bottom half-flap panel 40 form partof the bottom of the box. The inside surface of first attachmenthalf-flap panel 34 is attached to the outer surface of second closureflap 26. Likewise, the inside surface of third attachment half-flappanel 42 is attached to the outer surface of the fourth closure flap 30.

It should be noted that first closure flap 24 is not connected to fourthclosure flap 30, and second closure flap 26 is not connected to thirdclosure flap 28. Thus when the box blank 10 is folded between secondside panel 14 and third side panel 16, and between first side panel 12and fourth side panel 18, the box lies flat, as the closure flaps foldup and into the box, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

The aforementioned features of closure flaps 24-30 are the features ofwhat is commonly termed in the corrugated box industry as an “automaticbottom”. The bottom is considered “automatic” because the closure flapsslide into place, making a square box, when pressure is applied. Otherfeatures which may be incorporated into the automatic bottom, but arenot necessary, are a locking bottom, various relief notches, guidecontours, and other features that may or may not add utility.

The auto-bottom feature allows the pre-made boxes to be shipped andstored in a minimum amount of space, and with maximum cost savings.Because the boxes are pre-made, or in other words already folded andbonded, as much as 45 seconds per box can be saved in the time requiredto prepare a box to be filled, as compared to boxes which were notalready folded and bonded. Because of the large amount of time requiredto assemble other boxes, many retail stores spend time pre-making boxes,in anticipation for the day's business, so that the customers will nothave to wait for the boxes to be assembled. These other boxes take ontheir full cubic shape when pre-made, and require a significant amountof space while waiting to be filled. On the other hand, the box of FIGS.1-10 can be stored flat until ready to use.

I wish to make particular note of second opening 44 and third opening46, which are on opposing side panels 14, 18. When the box blank 10 iserected into a box, second opening 44 and third opening 46 together forma passage through which a seat belt 76 or other strap may be passed tosecure the box for transport in a vehicle. It is desirable that secondopening 44 be placed in the upper front region of second side panel 14.Likewise, third opening 46 should be situated at the upper front regionof fourth side panel 18. Each of second opening 44 and third opening 46may cross partially or even entirely over into third side panel 16;however it is not necessary that they do so.

First opening 45 and fourth opening 47, also on opposing side panels 14,18, help create symmetry that make orienting the box simpler. Althoughthis invention may be constructed with or without first opening 45 andfourth opening 47, it is desirable to include them, since they provideincreased functionality and greater flexibility in the way the box isused. A seat belt 76 may also be passed through first opening 45 andfourth opening 47. The seat belt 76 may also be passed through the boxin other configurations, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

While openings 44,45,46,47 are all illustrated as being at the samelevel above the bottom of the box and in about the top half of the sidepanels, the openings may be at different levels above the bottom, and/orin the middle or lower portions of the sidewall.

The openings 44,45,46,47 are preferably 4 inches long by 1⅞ inches wide.While openings 44,45,46,47 as small as about 2½ inches long by about 1inch wide may be sufficient for receiving the seatbelt 76 and its tongueend, larger openings of about 3½ to 5 inches high by about 2 inches wideare preferred, because larger openings make it easier to “thread” theseat belt 76 tongue into the second opening 44 and out the third opening46. The openings 44,45,46,47, are preferably vertical or diagonal,corresponding to the angle of the seat belt 76; however, the openings44,45,46,47, may also be horizontal or any other angle.

The operation of the box is illustrated in FIGS. 2-5. The closure flaps24-30 are pushed up and inside the box to make the box lie flat forshipment or storage, as shown in FIG. 4. When the opposite sides of theflattened box are pushed toward each other by a person in the directionof arrows A and B (FIG. 2), the closure flaps 24-30 are automaticallypulled down into a single bottom plane which is perpendicular to theside panels 12-18, forming a box.

FIG. 3 shows the inside of the closure flaps 24-30 when the box is in anerected state. At this stage, the box has an appearance best seen inFIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows one type of insert 48 that may be used to provideadditional support which may be necessary for smaller, fragile objects.Other styles of inserts or means of support may be used as appropriate;however it is useful by way of example to provide a depiction of aparticular insert. The phantom lines 54-58 depict semi-pierced linesthat allow any of sections 60-64 to be easily detached, in order for theinsert 48 to fit around a larger object. Insert 48 is designed to fitonto a cylindrically shaped object, such as a vase, by sliding theinsert onto the object through slit 52 up to circular cutout 50. Thewidth of the insert 48 should be slightly less than the width of theside panels 12-18 so that the insert 48 will fit snugly into the boxwhen erect.

FIG. 7 shows how the insert 48 can be adjusted to fit over a largerobject by removing one of sections 60-64. FIG. 7 is shown with firstsection 60 removed revealing a larger slit 68 and larger circular cutout66.

FIG. 8 illustrates part of the system in which the box and insert 48 areused. In the case of the box being used with a floral arrangement 70,the box is erected, and the insert 48 is slid onto the floralarrangement 70, as indicated by arrow C, and then the vase with insertare placed inside the box, as indicated by arrow D. It should beunderstood that the use of an insert 48 or other means of support is notalways necessary, as in the case of a larger or less fragile item.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the invention as it pertains to aretail customer using the box to transport purchased goods. The box withfloral arrangement 70 and insert 48, if needed, is placed on the seat ofan automobile with first side panel 12 against the back of the seat. Aseat belt 76 is then passed through second opening 44 and third opening46, and then fastened to secure the box and its contents in the vehicle.The seat belt 76 passes generally horizontally through the box andbetween the holes 44, 46. As shown in FIG. 9, the lap belt 72 securesthe box to the seat. The shoulder strap 74 is kept from interfering withthe floral arrangement by second opening 44 and third opening 46. Oncethe seat belt 76 is buckled into the seat belt buckle, the box issecured to the seat of the automobile.

More than one pair of openings may be incorporated into the box at otherlocations, to facilitate multiple seat belt styles or multiple sizes ofcontained objects, or to allow installation in multiple orientations ofbelt to box or box to seat. FIG. 10 illustrates various paths E, F, G,H, I, and J by which a seat belt may be passed through any two of theopenings 44, 45, 46, and 47. These various paths allow objects ofvarious sizes and shapes to be easily secured within the box inlocations 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, or 88, with or without the use of theinsert 48.

While FIGS. 1-10 illustrate a container that is a rectangular box withfour panels, alternative embodiments of the invented container maycomprise different numbers of parts and/or different arrangements ofpanels. Thus, the present invention may also be embodied in a trianglecarton 110, 210, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, or a hexagon carton310, as illustrated in FIG. 13, for example. Alternatively, the presentinvention may be embodied in a stackable carton 410 without an automaticbottom wherein the top end is wider than the bottom end, as illustratedin FIG. 14. The stackable carton may not be foldable, but may rather bemade of molded plastic or other suitable material so that it is asingle, integral piece. Such an embodiment may also be beneficial forits ability to contain spilled water or condensed moisture and preventthe same from contacting or staining the vehicle upholstery. Optionally,spacers 412 may be added or molded integrally into the stackable carton410 to prevent multiple stackable cartons 410 from stacking so closelyand tightly that they cannot easily be separated.

Many other shapes, sizes and configurations are envisioned, with thepreferred features being a carton bottom for stabilizing the floralarrangement or other item on a car seat and with a carton sidewall ofone or more panels adapted to be secured by a seatbelt, preferably viaopenings through which the seatbelt is guided. As may be seen in theexamples in FIGS. 11-14, cartons 110, 210, 310 and 410 include a bottom115, 215, 315, 415, and a sidewall 120, 220, 320, 420 with a pluralityof openings 125, 225, 325, and 425 through which the seatbelt mayextend. The seatbelt pulls the carton sidewall against the back of thevehicle seat. Most preferably, the seatbelt portion that is inside thecarton extends around the floral arrangement vase or container in such away that the vase or container is between the seatbelt and at least onesidewall panel of the carton and the floral arrangement is pulled towardthe back of the seat. The floral arrangement or other item is thereforestabilized, preferably by being supported by the bottom of the carton,at least partially surrounded by the sidewall of the carton, and securedrelative to the carton and the vehicle seat by the seatbelt.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate embodiments of the invented container thatinclude fewer panels and that do not surround all sides of the floralarrangement or other item. Thus, the present invention may be embodiedin only a back panel 510 and a bottom 520, wherein the back panel 510comprises two openings 525 which are configured to allow a seatbelt 76to pass through them, as shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, thegenerally vertical panel 510 rests against the back B of the vehicleseat 600 and the generally horizontal bottom 520 rests on the seatportion S of the vehicle seat 600. The present invention may also beembodied in only two side panels 14, 18, and a bottom 520, wherein theside panels 14, 18 each comprise at least one opening 525 configured toallow a seat belt 76 to pass through them, as shown in FIG. 16.

The top of the container is preferably left open and free from flapsthat could interfere with loading the container. The open top allowsdelicate objects such as the flowers in a vase floral arrangement toextend freely out the top. The open top also reduces interference withother delicate items such as a bow or delicate glasswork that might beattached to the vase. The open top also reduces material requirements ofthe container, which is better for the environment, and reduces cost.However, flaps, sheath material, cellophane, or other protectivematerial may extend up from the main body of the container to shield,support, or cover upper portions of the floral arrangement 70 or otheritem.

The openings, when used to restrain the container and its contents witha seat belt, help to keep the shoulder strap from interfering with afloral arrangement that may be contained in the container. The seat beltis preferably not attached or fixed to the container, but simply passesthrough the container. The seat belt secures the floral arrangementwithin the container by pressing against the floral arrangement. Thefloral arrangement is then pressed against the container and toward theseat of the automobile.

In its simplest embodiments, the invented floral arrangementstabilization container system may consist of or consist essentially ofa container with one or more vertical side panels, a bottom, a pluralityof openings in the side panel(s) receiving a seat belt, the seat beltextending between the openings and around a portion of a floralarrangement vase to pull the container and the box against theautomobile seat.

Although this invention has been described above with reference toparticular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extendsinstead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

1. An apparatus for stabilizing an item on a seat of a vehicle, theapparatus comprising: a container having a sidewall, a bottom forplacement on a seat of a vehicle, and an interior space for receiving anitem to be stabilized, wherein the sidewall comprises at least one sidepanel extending generally vertically up from the bottom, and wherein thesidewall comprises at least two spaced openings; and a vehicle seat beltextending through two of said at least two spaced openings to secure thecontainer to the seat.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontainer sidewall has four side panels and is generally rectangular. 3.An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein two of said four side panelseach have one of said openings.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2,wherein one of said four side panels has two of said openings.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container sidewall has threeside panels and is generally triangular.
 6. An apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein two of said three side panels each have one of saidopenings.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the containersidewall has only two side panels and each of said only two side panelshas at least one of said openings, so that the seat belt passed throughboth of said only two side panels.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7,wherein said two side panels are on opposing sides of the bottom so thatthe container is generally a U-shape.
 9. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein the container sidewall has only one side panel, so that thecontainer is generally an L-shape.
 10. An apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a floral arrangement inserted into the interior space of thecontainer, wherein the floral arrangement is the item to be stabilized.11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the seat belt is pressing againsta vase containing the floral arrangement to pull the vase against thesidewall of the container and stabilize the floral arrangement in thecontainer.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising anautomatic bottom.
 13. An apparatus for securing a box to a seat of anautomobile comprising: a box comprising four side panels; and the boxfurther comprising two openings on at least one of said four sidepanels; wherein the box is on top of the seat of the automobile; and aseatbelt passes through the two openings and is buckled into a seat beltbuckle.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: the side panels arebetween 4½ and 24 inches high, and between 3¾ and 15 inches wide; andthe openings are at least 2½ inches high and at least 1 inch wide. 15.The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a floral arrangement;wherein the floral arrangement is inside the box; and the seat belt ispressing against the floral arrangement.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13further comprising: an insert which is placed into the box; wherein theinsert is square and the width of the insert is slightly less than thewidth of the side panels; and the insert comprises a slit and a circularcutout.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the insert receives afloral arrangement.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the boxfurther comprises an automatic bottom.
 19. The box of claim 13 furthercomprising an open top.
 20. A process comprising: placing a generallycylindrical object into a box; placing the box onto a seat of anautomobile; passing a seat belt through two holes in the box and acrossthe generally cylindrical object; and buckling the seat belt into a seatbelt buckle.
 21. The process of claim 20 wherein the generallycylindrical object is a floral arrangement.
 22. The process of claim 20further comprising erecting a box blank into the box.
 23. An apparatusfor securing a carton to a seat of an automobile comprising: the cartoncomprising a sidewall having a plurality of side panels; wherein a shapeof the carton is selected from the group consisting of a triangle, asquare, and a hexagon; the carton further comprises at least twoopenings on the sidewall; wherein the carton is on top of the seat ofthe automobile; and a seatbelt passes through the two openings and isbuckled into a seatbelt buckle.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein:the side panels are between 4½ and 24 inches high, and between 3¾ and 15inches wide; and the openings are at least 2½ inches high and at least 1inch wide.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein a top end of the cartonis wider than a bottom end of the box, and the carton is adapted tostack on top of another carton.
 26. The apparatus of claim 23, whereinthe seat belt comprises a lap belt and a shoulder belt, and both the lapbelt and the shoulder belt extend through the openings.
 27. An apparatuscomprising: at least one side panel and a bottom connected to said atleast one side panel; wherein said at least one side panel comprise atotal of at least two openings; and a seatbelt passes through said twoopenings and is buckled into a seatbelt buckle.
 28. The apparatus ofclaim 27 comprising only one side panel.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27comprising only two side panels.